Photographic reproducing apparatus



July 23, 1940, F HQMRICH 2,208,725

PHOTOGRAPHIC REPRODUCING APPARATUS Filed May 10, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 23, 1940. HOMRICH 2,2083% PHOTOGRAPHIC REPRODUCING APPARATUS Filed May 10, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 23, 1940. R -g 2,203,725

PHOTOGRAPHIC REPRODUCING APPARATUS Filed May 10, 19 38 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 23, 1940. HQMRICH 2,208,725

PHOTOGRAPHIC REPRODUCING APPARATUS Filed Maly 10/1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 filjd mm Patented July 23, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PHOTOGRAPHIO REPRODUCIN G APPARATUS Ferdinand Homrich, Hamburg-Altona, Germany 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a photographic reproducing apparatus for film strips, which is provided with an artificial light source and by means of which individual pictures in any desired sequence may be printed from a negative film strip or enlarged. Furthermore, .each individual picture can be examined and tested for density prior to reproduction to allow the amount of light to be modified to suit the density and to determine a m uniform time of exposure for all successively printed pictures.

The invention attains its object by providing means for moving the film strip to be reproduced forward and backward on an exposure window disposed above the artificial light source and fixing it thereto and by employing for the reception of the light sensitive emulsion support to be reproduced a casing which can be applied to and removed from the exposure window.

This construction affords the advantage that the individual picture concerned is fully uncovered over its entire surface and can be readily tested as to density by suitable means, as a photoelectric cell, a photometer, etc.

The reproducing apparatus may further be so constructed that the negative film strip to be reproduced is moved by the casing containing the emulsion support in that it is displaced through one picture space every time the casing is applied to the exposure window.

According to the invention, printing arrangements are made which allow the sensitive positive strip to be applied to and removed from the negative film strip for the printing of each individual picture, this being effected in such manner that the application and removal of the film strip brings about either its own advance through one picture space or a similar advance of the negative strip. This may for instance be effected 40 by mounting the positive strip in a movable casing which contains the feeding mechanism of the strip and which transmits its movement by means of a linkage to this mechanism so that at each forward movement or application of the casing an advance of the positive strip takes place. As one of the links which carry the casing is connected by a rod to the feeding device for the film strip, an advance of the strip through one picture space will be effected on the return movement or removal of the casing.

Further characteristic features of the invention are that the negative strip is moved intermittently by means of a feeding roller of known type over a window which corresponds in size to the individual pictures, the feeding movement of this roller being controlled by a mechanism which carries and feeds the positive strip, so that, on the application of the latter to the negative strip, the positive strip will be advanced through one picture space whilst the negative strip will be advanced through one picture space when the positive strip is returned, whereby double exposures are prevented.

For producing enlargements according to the invention the casing for the positive strip is replaced by a movable or detachable enlarging device which permits the enlargement of individual pictures or views and their examination as to density.

Two embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figures 1 to 9 show a device for producing contact prints and Figs. 10 and 11 a device for making enlargements.

More particularly:

Figure 1 is a general view in which the negative strip has been uncovered for the determination of its density.

Fig. 2 is a similar view to Fig. l, but shows the position of the elements during the exposure of the positive strip.

Fig. 3 is a view showing the container for the positive strip with its feeding device.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44, of Fig. 3.

Fig 5 is a similar view to Fig. 3 with the takeup and feed rollers for the positive strip left out.

Fig. 6 is a partial section on the line 65, of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the feeding device for the positive strip.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-4, of Fig. 7, and

Figs. 10 and 11 are side views of an enlarging device.

The novel photographic reproducing device as shown in Figs. 1 to 9 essentially consists of a container I for the positive strip and a feeding device, designated 2 as a unit, for the negative strip. The two structures are operatively interconnected by means of a linkage and mounted on the cover of a printing apparatus 4 provided with an artificial light source 3.

The container l holds an unexposed sensitive emulsion support 5 which corresponds in width to that of the negative film strip N from which the prints are to be made and which is mounted on the device 2. The positive strip 5 is provided at the edges with the same known arrangement of perforations as the negative strip, and is wound into a roll and supported on a bolt 6. From the latter the strip is led over the guide roller I, under a resilient presser plate 8, over the guide roller 9, a toothed roller ill the teeth of which are spaced in conformity with the edge perforations,

strip N, the following arrangement is provided:.

The positive strip 5 is pressed lightly against the deflecting roller 1 by means of a shoe I5 which is controlled by a spring 14. The shoe I5 is guided by means of a prismatic rod l6 in a groove I! in the bottom plate l6 and is retained by means of cover strips I9, 20 in a position of use. The spring I4 is connected at one end to a pin 2| which is firmly secured to the cover strip 20, the other end of the spring being connected to a pin 22 firmly secured to the rod l6. The function of the plate 8 is to press the positive strip 5 firmly against the negative strip during the printing process. For this purpose, the plate 8 is fitted with rigid pins 23 by means of which it is slidably guided in the part 24 of a base plate 25 mounted in the casing I, so that it can yield in opposition to its spring 26. Se-' cured rigidly to thebase plate 25 is a shaft 26a whereon the deflecting roller 9 is loosely mounted. From the deflecting roller 9 the positive'strip is led over the toothed roller III to the takeup roller l2. As indicated in Fig. 5, a ratchet wheel 2'! is rigidly connected with the toothed roller l0 and cooperates with an operating pawl 29 mounted on a rotary sector 28and also with a detent pawl 30 mounted on the casing l. The sector 28 is rigidly connected to a sleeve 36 mounted in a bearing 3|, as shownin Fig. 6. Connected to the sleeve 36, moreover, is a lever 33, Fig. 5, the movement of which is limited by abutments 34, 35 secured to the base plate 38 (Fig. 6) of the bearing 3|, the lever 33 being provided with a stud 31 for cooperation with the abutments. The guide rollers ll cooperate with the toothed feeding roller l6 and prevent the positive strip 5 from accidentally leaving the roller. The rollers II are loosely rotatable about a bolt 48 which is rigidly connected to a bearing 39. As Fig. 5 shows, the latter is fitted within a base plate 4| which is guided in a groove 42 in the wall 43. of the casing I. The base plate 4| of the bearing 39 is provided with a pin 44 which holds one end of a spring 45 the opposite end of which is connected with the base plate 25. The spring 45 tends to pull the bearing 39 upwards and thus presses the rollers ll against the circumference of the toothed roller 10. Connected to the latter is a sheave 46, shown in- Fig. 6, which cooperates with a sheave 48 through the medium of a motion transmitting element 41.

The sheave 48 is rigidly secured to the take-up roller I2 and rotates together with the latter about a shaft 49 connectedto the casing I. The

take-up roller I2 is provided with a resilient tongue 50 for holding the end of the strip to be wound on it. A disc 5| which is-loosely mounted on the shaft 49 serves as a guide for the positive allel links 54 and 55. To the pivot pin 56 of the lever 33, which moves about the shaft 32, a link section 51 is connected which is slidable relative to a link section 58 and which is movable together with the latter about a pin 59, secured to the frame 53, so that the casing I can be moved by means of the handle 52 in the direction of 'the arrow or and transported from the position shown in Fig. 1 into the position shownin Fig. 2.

The feeding device for the negative strip N consists of a delivery drum 60, shown in Fig. 7, from which the negative strip N is led over an exposure window 6| and over a toothed roller 62 which cooperates with a presser roller 63, into a take-up drum 64. To obtain reliable feeding of the negative strip N, the nd thereof which comes from the drum 60 is led over a. rigid guide surface 65 against which it is pressed by a plate 6! controlled by a spring 66. The plate 61 has a tail piece 68 which is arranged to slide in guides '10, H on the cover plate 69 of the frame 53. One end of the spring 66 is connected to a pin 12 mounted on the drum 68, and the other end of the spring 66 is connected with a pin 13 mounted on the guide II. The exposure window 6| is controlled by-springs l4 and rests in a frame 15 arranged in a second frame I6 which is mounted rigidly on the cover plate of the casing 4 and within which the frame 15 can be displaced in the direction of the negative strip N in opposition to a spring I1 and by means of a pin 19 eccentrically mounted in a disc 18. For this purpose the disc I8 is rotatably held in the frame 16 and has an attachment which projects through the frame and is fitted with a hand wheel 8| at its free end.

The purpose of the displaceable arrangement of the frame is to enable the window 6| to be adjusted and set in exact register with the individual pictures of the negative strip N.

From the exposure window 6| the negative strip N is led over a toothed drum 62, and owing to the presser roller 63 the perforations at the edges of the negative strip remain constantly in engagement with the teeth of the roller Ill. The toothed roller '62 is rigidly mounted on a shaft 82 provided with a hand grip 83, Fig. 8, and rotatably mounted in arms 84 which are secured to the supporting frame 16. The drum 62 is connected with a disc 85 fitted with ratchet teeth 86 the distance between which is equal to the picture length of the negative strip N. A bolt 88 which is controlled by a spring 81 and which is slidable in axial direction in a sleeve 89 cooperates with the ratchet teeth 86. The sleeve 89 is rigidly connected to a lever 90 which is rotatably mounted on the shaft 82. At the free end of the lever 96 there is a pivot pin 9| which is engaged by a rod 93 pivoted to the link 53 by a pin 94.

In the frame 16 a filter, for instance a yellow screen 95, is provided whichcan be turned by 'means of a handle 98, Fig. '7, about pins 96, 97

in the'arms 84 and adapted to be swung in a 75 horizontal plane about a pin III! in order to allow the negative strip N to be readily introduced between the roller 63 and the toothed drum 62. In its position of use the shaft I00 is engaged by a hook I02 which is movable about the shaft 82 and which guards the shaft I00 against accidental displacement.

The device functions as follows:

When all parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1 and a print is to be made from one of the pictures of the negative strip N disposed on the exposure window 5|, the handle 52 of the casing I is gripped and the casing I moved thereby into the position shown in Fig. 2. By this action the lever 90 is also moved into the postion shown in Fig. 2, and the bolt 88 slides over the face of of the disc 85 into engagement with one of the ratchet teeth 86 of the disc 85. The part of the positive strip which is disposed under the presser plate 8 can now be exposed by the switching on of the light source 3. After the exposure, the casing I is restored to the position shown in Fig. 1. During this movement of the container I the lever 80 will be moved through the medium of the links 93 and 55 from the position shown in Fig. 2 into the position shown in Fig. 1. Since now the bolt 88 is in engagement with one of the teeth of the toothed drum 52, the movement of the lever 90 will cause the drum 62 to turn in the direction of the arrow B, as indicated in Fig. 2, and the negative strip will be drawn over the exposure window 6| through the extent of one picture space, so that, when the casing I is returned, the next picture to be printed from the negative strip N will move automatically into position over the exposure window. When the picture of the negative now disposed on the exposure window 6| is to be printed, the casing I is again moved in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1, and the positive strip will then be moved through one picture space from the delivery roller 5 on to the take-up roller I2, in that the lever 33 connected to the links 51, 58 will be moved from the position shown in Fig. 1 into the position shown in Fig. 2. In this movement of the lever 33 the sector 28, which is connected to it through a sleeve 36, will be turned in the direction of the arrow '7 (Fig. 5), and the pawl 29 from the sector will transmit the motion to the ratchet wheel 21 and to the drum I0 rigidly connected to the wheel. By this movement of the toothed drum I0 the positive strip 5 under the presser plate 8 will be advanced through one picture space. To prevent the toothed drum I0 from returning accidentally when the sector 28 moves in the direction of the arrow B, the detent pawl 30 is provided. To insure reliable winding of the positive strip 5 (Fig. 3) on the roller I2 during the feeding of the strip, the rotary motion of the toothed drum I0 is transmitted by means of the motion transmitting element 41 to the-roller I2 so that the latter will participate in the movement.

The toothed drum 62 can also be moved by means of the handle 83 (Fig. 8) independently of the rest of the mechanism, which is advantageous when individual pictures of the negative strip N are to be omitted from the printing operation.

When pictures are to be enlarged, the casing I for the positive strip is replaced, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, by an enlarging device I00 which is movable so as to permit the selection of individual pictures from a negative strip for enlargement and the examination of density.

For this purpose, the enlarging frame I00 is connected with the linkages 54, 55, 93 and like the casing I for positive strips can then be brought into position for exposure by being moved on the feeding device 2 for the negative strip N in the direction of the arrow as.

In the position shown in Fig. 11 enlarging of a desired portion of the negative strip N can be effected by means of the light source 3 the rays of which pass through the exposure window GI, the negative N and the lens IOI to the emulsion carrier S arranged in a holder I03 and adjustable relative to the frame I00 by a rail I02. To the holder I03 a mirror I04 is hinged to I05 which can be adjusted so as to clearly show the enlargement. The mirror I00 with its frame serves to secure the emulsion carrier S to its holder I03 during the enlarging operation.

The motion of the enlarger I00 from the position shown in Fig. 10 and into the position shown in Fig, 11, and vice versa, causes automatic motion of the negative strip N in the same manner as described with respect to the printing unit.

I claim: I

1. In a photographic reproducing apparatus for successively reproducing photographs from a negative film strip on to a light sensitive strip an artificial light source, an exposure window disposed above the light source, means for moving the negative film strip forward and backward on the exposure window, a casing for receiving the sensitive strip for reproduction, said casing being applicable to and removable from said exposure window and serving to hold the sensitive strip in contact with the negative film strip, and an operative connection between said casing and means constructed and arranged to effect film feeding movement of the said means upon movement of the casing. in one direction.

2. In an apparatus for printing positives from film strip negatives, a base element, a casing normally resting on said base element, a pair of parallel motion links connecting said base and casing, means in said casing for supporting a sensitized strip and including a feed roller provided with an actuating shaft, a crank on said shaft, a link connecting said base and shaft, said link being operative to rotate the shaft as the casing swings from normal to printing position, means to support and feed a negative film strip including a negative feed roller, said negative film strip being positioned for contact by the sensitized film upon the casing being swung from normal to printing position, and a ratchet mechanism imparting a step-by-step movement to the negative feed roller and including a pawl carrying crank and a link connecting the pawl carrying crank and one of the parallel motion links.

3. In an apparatus for printing positives from film strip negatives, a base, a casing for sensitized films normally seated on said base, a negative film support mounted adjacent one end of the base, guide means connecting the base and casing for producing guided swinging movement of the casing between normal position and position over the negative film strip, means for feeding a sensitized film within said casing and operable to produce feeding movement of said sensitized film upon swinging movement of the casing between normal and printing positions, and other means for feeding the negative film and operable to advance said negative film upon each movement of the casing from printing to normal positions, the means for feeding the sensitized film including a feed shaft extending transversely of the casing, a feed roller on the shaft, a crank on said shaft, and a link connecting said crank and base.

aaosyms sensitized film upon swinging movement of the casing between normal and printing positions, and other means for feeding the negative film and operable to advance said negative film upon each movement of the casing from printing to normal positions, the means for feeding the sensitized film including a feed shaft extending transversely of the casing, a. feed roller on the shaft, a crank on said shaft, and a link connecting. said crank and base; said other means including a negative film feed roller, a ratchet mechanism for actuating the same, and a link connecting the ratchet mechanism with the guide means.

FERDINAND HOMRICH. 

